Phoronis

Phoronis is one of the two genera of the horseshoe worm family (Phoronidae), in the phylum Phoronida. The body has two sections, each with its own coelom. There is a specialist feeding structure, the lophophore, which is an extension of the wall of the coelom and is surrounded by tentacles. The gut is U-shaped. The diagnostic feature that distinguishes this genus is the lack of epidermal invagination at the base of the lophophore. These worms are filter feeders.[2]

This article is about the horseshoe worm genus. For other uses, see Phoronis (disambiguation).

Phoronis
Phoronis hippocrepia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Clade:	Lophophorata
Phylum:	Phoronida
Family:	Phoronidae
Genus:	Phoronis Wright 1856
Type species
Phoronis ovalis Wright 1856
Species
P. australis Haswell 1883 P. emigi Hirose et al. 2014 P. hippocrepia Wright 1856 P. ijimai Oka 1897 P. muelleri Selys-Lonchamps 1903 P. ovalis Wright 1856 P. pallida (Schneider 1862) Silén 1952 P. psammophila Cori 1889[1]
Synonyms
Actinotrocha Müller 1846 Phoronella Haeckel 1896

Its larva is an Actinotrocha.

Etymology

The generic name refers to Phoronis (better known as Io), a Greek mythological character sometimes conflated with Isis.[3] Thomas Strethill Wright, of Edinburgh, did not give a specific reason for choosing the name.[4]

Taxonomy

Phronis architecta is no longer accepted and is considered to be a synonym of Phoronis psammophila. Similarly Phoronis vancouverensis is considered to be a synonym of Phoronis ijimai.[5]

References

1. World Register of Marine Species
2. Phoronida
3. "Phoronis". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. "New Latin, probably from Latin Phoronis (Io, mythical priestess of Argos who was loved by Zeus)."
4. Strethill Wright, T. (1856). "Description of Two Tubicolar Animals". The Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal. Edinburgh. 4 (new ser.): 316. [The entire footnote:] Phoronis, one of the surnames of Isis.
5. ITIS